A Humble Beginning, Now 40+ Years Strong
2021
AMAC Advocated for the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act
AMAC worked with members of Congress to advocate for the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act resulting in $2 billion for airports and $200 million in rent relief for concessionaires and the American Rescue Plan Act resulting in $8 billion in grants for airports and $800 million in rent relief for concessionaires that prioritized Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (ACDBEs).
2021
April 1, 2020
AMAC Launches the #SavetheTravelExperience Campaign
As the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the aviation industry, AMAC launched a grass-roots campaign to #savethetravelexperience. The mission was to develop a viral campaign designed to influence lawmakers working on COVID-19 relief packages to specifically include airport-related businesses in legislation.
April 1, 2020
September 11, 2019
AMAC Economic Opportunity & Policy Forum Returns
On September 11–12, 2019, the first AMAC Economic Opportunity and Policy Forum was held and welcomed aviation leaders, government officials and business representatives from across the aviation industry to Washington, DC to exchange ideas, share entrepreneurship best practices and seek innovation in airport diversity and inclusion.
September 11, 2019
Former AMAC Presidents
Gene Roth
2007–2010
Shelby Scales
2015–2016
Krystal Brumfield
2017–2019
First Board of Directors
Board Officers
- Chair: John Greer, Nashville Airport Authority (Nashville, TN)
- Vice Chair: Felker Ward, Jr., Concessions International (Atlanta, GA)
- Secretary: Geri Castillo (Denver, CO)
- Treasurer: Esterlene Lewis, Miami-Dade Aviation Department (Miami, FL)
Board Members
- Robert Crews (Linden, NJ)
- Thelma Duggins (Silver Spring, MD)
- Sue Ling Gin (Chicago, IL)
- Dave Miller, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta, GA)
- John Noble, St. Louis Lambert International Airport (St. Louis, MO)
- Reba Smallwood (Philadelphia, PA)
- Dianne Waters, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (Dallas, TX)
FAA Champions
- Clark Sharpe
- Leon Watkins
First Members
- Individual: Robert M. Blackwell, Detroit Commissioner
- Business: Geri Castillo
- Corporation: Host International, Inc.; Company Representative: Clarence Daniels, Jr.
- Airport: Memphis – Shelby County Airport Authority
Note Regarding Founders: Although it has been widely accepted that Leon Watkins and Clark Sharpe were among the AMAC Founders, this is untrue as they were federal employees and were forbidden to belong to trade associations. Leon initiated a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Seminar in response to the promulgation of 49 CFR Part 26 (construction) by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This Seminar was held annually in different locations, starting in the mid-1980s in Miami, FL. Leon also allowed a group of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) from across the U.S. to meet in his office to discuss and resolve a variety of challenges impacting their businesses. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) held and sponsored the joint seminar for several years. During this time, the AMAC Founders formalized and incorporated the Airport Minority Advisory Committee (AMAC) and joined forces with the FAA to hold the first AMAC/FAA MBE Conference. The FAA seminar continued apart from AMAC’s conference for several years and is now the Annual FAA National Civil Rights Training Conference for Airports, which is separate from the Annual AMAC Airport Business Conference